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come to the meeting before approval could be given. This took a considerable amount of time by the Committee compared to the past when speakers were suggested and then confirmed if the symposium was accepted. Last year the CCFI had six rejected symposia meaning 36 speakers had to be contacted and told that their presence and contribution would not be needed. This makes it difficult for them to be approached again for later symposia suggestions, and CCFI members will be discouraged from submitting proposals in the future. We were told that new speakers would be given a higher priority than those who had been heard year after year on the same subject. Our symposia have tried to get a mix of new (fresh ideas) and old (experience). Also, there are increasing number of late breakers that add to the approval process confusion. The Board really needs to a clear policy on how to get committee and PDG members to have meaningful input. Partnering with other committees/PDG should have a higher priority. The second point is that the CCFI would also like symposia and technical presentations to be put on an IAFP Web site. Another possibility is for the CCFI sponsored symposia to be put on the CCFI Web page. Can speaker presentations be put on the Web site now if we have speaker approval? For this, we would need a speaker release form. Procedures to Investigate Foodborne Illness: The 6th edition is completed and forwarded to Springer Publishing. Reformatting the keys was the major activity in this edition with input by Kristin Delea (CDC), Jack Guzewich (lead), Ewen Todd and Bert Bartleson. Three issues arose for discussion from the release of this publication: (a) Need to identify appropriate individuals to be responsible for updating the electronic version and we propose that the CCFI be responsible for this with a final review once a year; share files used by members would facilitate updates. (b) Marketing of electronic document: how would releases be managed on the Web site and who would have access to this; the CCFI has been on record that this type of information should be freely available to all persons seeking information. One approach is to put it on the Internet so it will be found by search engines; the more links, the higher the Google rating. This approach reinforces the branding of the organization. However, the Committee will require help (via Board) to locate members or staff with Web site knowledge (maybe hire a part time student). CDC may want this on their Web site as well. (c) The electronic 6th edition version tables and investigative forms need to be searchable by food type, pathogen, etc., like using Access, but this database format may not be practical because there needs to be a printable version with PDF forms available for use on site. CDC Diseases Transmitted by Foods (1982 last edition): This would be as complete a list as possible of all pathogens associated with foodborne disease. However, a title change was suggested of “Agents of Acute Foodborne Disease” to limit its scope to acute agents only (discussion arising from where mycotoxins fitted in). The aim is to have symptoms, incubation period, sequelae, implicated food, etc., included. We may want to link this searchable document to be hyperlinked to other

sites. The process was agreed to by Rob Tauxe (CDC) and the Board, with the Board providing funds for a student to prepare draft documents with member input. This would be best in an Access database format for ease of searching for specific data used in foodborne disease outbreak investigations (see above for searching electronic versions of databases of tables and keys). Members of CCFI have already self-identified to work on the updates, but others have to be approached. For instance, Guodong Zhang of FDA, who attended the CCFI meeting for the first time, will locate updates on Shigella and Campylobacter. The following persons at FDA could also be useful contributors: james.fear@fda.hhs.gov; allen. gelfius@fda.hhs.gov; janet.williams@fds.hhs.gov. Food worker papers in JFP: Ewen Todd updated the Committee on the status of five new foodworker papers currently in press (August to December, 2010) be combined with the 6 already published (2007–2009) (total 11). A last paper (#12) should focus on practical aspects of hygiene. Attention was drawn to the fact that FDA retail section (Glenda Lewis, Kevin Smith) have published a similar paper on retail hygiene this year and they should be approached for input. Revisions to the Procedures to Investigate Waterborne Illness manual: This will be initiated by the Committee in combination with the Water Safety and Quality PDG. Scope should include algal toxins and possibly natural disaster management. Contacts for revision process could be several, e.g., at CDC and FDA – Vince Radke – waterborne disease surveillance for states vradke@CDC.gov; Richard Gelting – environmental engineer rug7@ CDC.gov, Michael Beach – Head waterborne disease at CDC mjb3@CDC.gov and at FDA – Thomas Hill Thomas.Hill@fda.hhs.gov and Jack Guzewich John.Guzewich@fda.hhs.gov, Christine Moe, Emory University. Larry Cohen, Kraft foods; Phyllis Posy (new Committee member), Israel have agreed to be involved. Marilyn Lee is coordinating the review team. Ewen as Chair is an ad hoc member. Foodborne crisis document: Following on the recommendation from NAFSS to create a document or manual on “How to respond to a foodborne disease crisis,” the CCFI will begin with a proposal for a symposium or Webinar to generate interest from the response side, followed by a possible workshop and a manual on crisis communication. Scope of document must be decided. More research needed before committing to an e-doc manual. Thilde Peterson and Michael Roberson are taking the lead. Other manuals to be considered for updates by CCFI in 2011: Vector-borne disease, HACCP. Electronic version of manuals: It was agreed that all manuals produced by this Committee should be available in an electronic format. Craig Henry volunteered to help with the set up with the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) expertise for all electronic manuals. Committee history: Frank Bryan completed a history of this Committee in 1999 and he requested that the Committee add to this for a 100-year history in 2014 (agreed to by the Board). Members should record information on publications, talks and symposia from 1999 to the special edition of Food Protection Trends.

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718 FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS | NOVEMBER 2010

Food Protection Trends - November 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - November 2010